Neighbours turn away woman after stabbing attack

A 19-year-old woman was in a serious condition in hospital yesterday after being repeatedly stabbed during a fight with another teenager at a unit in Sunbury.

Seriously injured and bleeding, she approached several neighbours for help, but was turned away before an elderly couple took her in and called an ambulance.

Police were called to a house in Pasley Street, Sunbury, about 9pm on Thursday after reports that a woman had been stabbed during a fight with her housemate.

Police said the injured woman and the 16-year-old alleged attacker were tenants in a Hume Council supported housing unit in the street. The council declined to comment yesterday.

Retired couple Ernest and Marlene Pinkham said they were watching television when they heard someone screaming that they had been stabbed. "We went to the door and the girl ran inside and she was covered in blood and wanted to have a shower," Mr Pinkham said.

Mrs Pinkham said: "I felt like we'd jumped into the TV because we've never had anything like this happen before."

She said the woman, who was suffering from shock, was holding her stomach "because I think the knife was still in her".

Police later found a knife in the Pinkhams' shower. The couple dialled 000 and the woman was taken by ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where she was in a serious condition with 16 stab wounds.

The alleged attacker was still being sought yesterday. Anyone with information is urged to contact Sunbury police on 9744 8111 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.